Letter: Our polarization can be reversed

Friday

Aug 4, 2017 at 12:01 AM

Our country is adrift, but Congress can set things right. As a former college professor, I say that the current U.S. political polarization and paralysis can be reversed with constructive cooperation, and then we can make needed reforms and repairs to our government.

A "Holy Spirit of Goodness" could move in the U.S. congressional Bipartisan Working Group. For this group, I coin the acronym CuBWaG, to symbolize a cub "teddy" bear (to honor Teddy Roosevelt) wagging its tail in bipartisan cordiality. It could grow into a big mighty "bugbear," albeit doing good.

Cubwag co-chairmen, Reps. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, and Erik Kilmer D-Wash., could ask George Mason University to arrange venues and schedules for picnics and study groups for Cubwag members. George Mason University, near Washington, D.C., has a conflict-resolution studies program.

Four Florida congressional elected officials – Reps. Dennis Ross, Charlie Crist, Darren Soto and Sen. Marco Rubio – should join Cubwag, and use it as a base to become powerful leaders for constructive depolarization.

I challenge Cubwag to give the U.S. a Christmas present: a bipartisan-crafted, affordable, fair, national healthcare system.

That plan should free all U.S. businesses from being responsible to provide healthcare for their employees, so our businesses can compete unfettered and better in the world economy.

The Cubwag discussion and study agenda should include the Sept. 20, 2014, Economist magazine article and editorial with suggestions on how to fix Obamacare.

Also, T.R. Reid's book, "The Healing of America," describes different countries' healthcare systems, which we could emulate. Switzerland's system, with a mix of government and private coverage, could be a role model for the U.S.

Hurray for constitutional checks and balances. Power to the people. Power to Congress.